What is a 'change management plan' in project management?

A change management plan in project management is fundamentally a structured approach designed to handle modifications in a project's scope or objectives. This plan outlines how changes are identified, assessed, approved, and implemented, ensuring that any alterations do not derail the project’s progress. It serves as a framework for communication among stakeholders regarding planned changes and their implications, helping to minimize disruptions and maintain project alignment with its goals.

By having a change management plan, project managers can systematically approach the complexity of adjustments required throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that all changes are documented, justified, and vetted through appropriate channels. This level of organization contributes to clearer communication and helps maintain stakeholder trust, preventing misunderstandings that could arise from unplanned changes.

The other choices represent valuable aspects of project management but do not specifically describe a change management plan. Increasing team productivity pertains to methods for enhancing performance, allocating resources relates to budgeting and financial planning, and scheduling timelines focuses on organizing project sequences and deadlines. However, none of these directly address the structured management of changes, which is the essence of a change management plan.